New college pharmaceutical care lab 'simulates community pharmacy practice environment'

By Allison Cerra

NEW YORK A pharmacy school now has its own state-of-the-art pharmaceutical care laboratory, thanks to Duane Reade.

Long Island University's Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences opened the Duane Reade Pharmaceutical Care Laboratory, which "simulates a modern community pharmacy practice environment," said Stephen Gross, dean emeritus of the College of Pharmacy, who secured the funds from Duane Reade.

“It provides important knowledge and skills that will better prepare our students for the advanced practice experiences that students will get when they are placed in actual community pharmacies,” Gross said.

Equipped with a computerized, fully operational prescription department, the new lab features semi-private and private counseling spaces and is being used in a variety of courses, including classes in pharmacotherapeutics and communication skills in pharmaceutical care.

A dedication ceremony for the laboratory was held earlier this spring. In addition to Gross, participants in the ceremony were University president David Steinberg, University VP Jeffrey Kane, Brooklyn campus provost Gale Stevens Haynes and assistant pharmacy dean Lorraine Cicero. Duane Reade was represented by SVP pharmacy operations Frank Scorpiniti.

“Duane Reade has been particularly generous to the college, providing funding for this laboratory, underwriting innovative community pharmacy residency programs and supporting many student-run events and activities,” Gross said.